The
Step Kings - Gettin it on!
The opening drumbeat
of "Vibe" lets the listener know they are not in for just another new metal
band. When the screaming vocals kicks in over the crunchy guitars and the
melodic offsetting vocals, the listener is propelled into what makes the
Step Kings so
compelling and different than the current crop of heavy bands.
The Step Kings walk
a fine line between various musical worlds. They borrow heavily from hard
core punk, modern metal and it mix those styles with progressive rock and
funk instrumentation. If this unique sounds catches on, the Step Kings
may just touch off a new sub genre and musical trend.
The band's Road Runner
debut, "Lets' Get it On" consist of riff happy progressive rock and funk
fused guitars and bass lines contrasted with new metal and punk styling.
What really sets this band apart from the pack is their two lead vocalist.
One with a melodic style and the other that uses modern metal screams and
raps. Songs like "Vibe", the current hit "Right is Wrong", plus "One and
One" and "Recognition" place the Step Kings firmly at the forefront of
the hard rock renaissance.
The Step Kings break
through the confusing line between punk and pop that bands like Green Day
and Blink-182 have created. If the "Let's Get it On" CD gains the
success it deserves, it will help redefine the punk sound. Are the Step
Kings a punk band? Some would say yes, while others may say no! However,
they are closer to the true punk sound than today's crop of pop bands that
call themselves punk. They really transcend punk and the other musical
styles they employ to create their own sound. There is no need to
label the music, just listen to it!
Who are the Step
Kings? The core of the band is a trio. They recently added a second guitarist
to round out their live sound. Bob McLynn, Fern and Mike Watt were all
playing in other bands in the  New
York music scene when The Step Kings just kind of happened. They found
that Bob's screaming vocals matched well with Ferns more melodic style.
They began writing music together and playing New York clubs like CBGB's.
They recorded an EP titled "Seven Easy Steps" that was released on their
own label, Fantastic Plastic in 1997. The EP earned them rave reviews and
airplay on collage radio. They were then asked to go out on tour with S.O.D.
(Storm Troopers of Death), and have since played with bands like Incubus,
Candiria, Everlast, Kid Rock & The Dickies which helped gain them exposure
outside of New York.
After two years of
touring the country in their van, barely paying the expenses with show
and merchandise proceeds, they went into the studio with producer, Machine
(Pitchshifter, White Zombie, Coal Chamber) and recorded their full length
debut, "Let's get it on". They once again decided to go the independent
route and release the CD on their own label. They caught a lucky break
when a local collage radio station, WSOU, began playing their music. With
the help of radio promoters -"The Syndicate" - songs from "Let's get it
on" landed on collage radio play list across the U.S.
That was when they
gained the attention of Road Runner Records. They remastered and added
three songs to "Lets get it on" and released it through Road Runner in
March of 2000. Since then they have captivated listeners and music reviewers.
Shortly after the Road Runner release the band returned to the road, opened
for bands like Kittie and the Insane Clown Posse.
Hard work, determination,
a unique sound, and quality songs insure that the Step Kings are the real
deal. Whether it is the Alice in Chains sounding chorus of "Recognition",
the rapcore-metal screams of "One and One" or the punked up cover of Pink
Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall", this band has raised the bar for heavy
music in the 21st century. What are you waiting for? Stop reading this,
pick up the album and "Let's Get it On!"
Band
Photos and Album Art Copyright© 2000 Road Runner Records and the Step
Kings. All Rights Reserved by Copyright holders.
Want
more?
Order
a copy of "Let's Get it On" online
Listen
to selected tracks from "Let's Get it On" in Real Audio and MP3
Learn
more about the band at Road Runner Records
Visit
the band's official site for the latest tour dates, news, pictures, multimedia
and be sure to read the Tour Diary
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